ARS | Publication request: Zinc deficiency increases miR-34a expression in mice

Submitted to: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 25, 2010
Publication Date: March 17, 2011
Citation: Liuzzi, J.P., Valencia, K., Cao, J.J., Gonzales, A. 2011. Zinc deficiency increases miR-34a expression in mice. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Conference. 25:977.1.

Technical Abstract: miRNAs play a significant role in the regulation of gene expression in a plethora of eukaryotic systems by binding to complementary regions of specific target mRNAs. To explore the possible changes of miRNA expression induced by zinc deficiency, we compared the global miRNA expression in small intestine of young CD-1 mice fed either a zinc-sufficient or zinc-deficient diet. Microarray analysis revealed up-regulation of miR-34a, miR-1949, miR-1274a, and miR-140 in small intestine of zinc deficient mice. Validation study using RT-PCR showed that zinc deficiency caused up-regulation of miR-34a in small intestine and thymus but did not affect the expression of this miRNA in liver. Moreover zinc deficiency did not affect the expression of the miR-34a target Sirt. The miR-34 family has been implicated in the p53 tumor suppressor network. Therefore, the up-regulation of miR-34a by zinc deficiency could be part of the adaptive response to DNA oxidative damage caused by zinc depletion.